| Warriors Getting Defensive Authored by Payam Jahromi - March 19, 2007 - 10:33 am
With a starting lineup of Baron Davis, Jason Richardson, Stephen Jackson, Al Harrington and Andris Biedrins, the Warriors are 6-0.
But why they are 6-0 in those games (6-1 in the last seven games, losing at Portland when Baron sat out) would surprise those who have not watched the games.
The Warriors are winning with defense.
The average final score in those six wins is 107-94. The Warriors are still scoring at a high rate, but the defensive end is what is producing wins.
Against Detroit, they held Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton to a combined nine shot attempts, forced the Clippers into several 24-second violations, frustrated Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavs all night, contained and frustrated Kevin Garnett and forced Ray Allen to a 7-for-21 shooting game.
The rotations have been perfect, the man defense has been excellent and the help defense has been there. Stephen Jackson frustrated Dirk the same way Tracy McGrady did a couple years back in the playoffs and has probably been the team’s best man defender.
Baron has stepped up his defense and is pressuring the ball better than I’ve ever seen him because of his limited minutes (he’s averaging only 26 minutes a game in the last six games). Richardson may not be scoring and shooting like in years past, but he’s playing the best defense of his career (he’s also passing better than he ever has). Biedrins is blocking shots and rebounding, averaging 11.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in the six wins.
Monta Ellis and Mickael Pietrus are providing good pressure defense off the bench. Ellis has shown flashes of brilliance on the offensive side as well. At only 21, there is no reason (besides injury) that he won’t be a star in this league.
But perhaps the most important defensive statistic is field-goal percentage against. For the season, opponents are shooting 45.9% from the field. In the last six wins, they’re shooting 40.3%. To put that number in perspective, the Rockets lead the NBA in FG% against at 42.8%.
Along with FG% against is defensive rebounding, where the Warriors rank dead last. Rebounding is part of defense, and because of the small ball style they play, they are susceptible to the offensive rebound.
But over the past six wins, they are allowing one less offensive rebound a game – which is impressive if you consider that opponents are missing more shots and have more opportunity for offensive boards. In those games the Warriors are also averaging two more defensive rebounds a game.
Overall, in the six wins the Warriors have been out-rebounded by an average of 43.3 to 42.2, difference of 1.1. For the season, the difference is 46.6 to 41.7, a 4.9 differential.
During this hot streak, the Warriors have struggled at times offensively, but because of defense, they have stayed in the game. In the past, if they didn’t shoot the ball well, they didn’t have a chance.
The stats are all there, the visual evidence is there, and most importantly, the wins are now coming.
With Don Nelson running the show, the fact that the Warriors love to play small ball, run and shoot a lot of 3’s isn’t a surprise to anybody. But this recent surge in defense has come out of nowhere.
This is the latest the Warriors have been in the playoff picture in a long time. The Oakland Arena hasn’t been rocking like this since Gilbert Arenas wore a Warriors uniform.
And the chant of “Dee-Fense” has actually meant something lately.
For comments or questions, please write me at pjahromi@sbcglobal.net |
